AMENDMENT
The links below will take you to each song’s lyrics and lyrical commentary.
INTRODUCTION
The Bible describes God’s love and grace towards mankind. It also describes the old covenant law and what is right. Sometimes it seems to men like grace and law contradict each other, but Christ said that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). The law is still in effect: Jesus took our place and fulfilled it on our behalf so we can be deemed free and innocent by the standards of the law. Furthermore, Psalms 119:160 (AMP) says that the sum of God’s Word is truth. Among Christians there is a division between those who emphasize grace and those who emphasize living perfectly according to the law. Those who focus on grace easily become very liberal and those who try to live perfectly according to the law easily become legalistic.
Several of us in Shadows of Paragon have a more legalistic background. Some years ago, we began to study the balance between God’s grace and the law of the old covenant. We saw Bible verses that we had read before – but never fully reflected on or understood. Our view of the law and grace began to change profoundly.
In Romans 6:17–18, Paul writes about turning our hearts to the gospel and as a result becoming free from sin and belonging to righteousness. It’s not about fulfilling the law and doing everything right, but to have one’s heart changed and longing for what is good and pure. We can choose to have a heart that loves God and our neighbor. Choose to look at people and at life through the loving eyes of God! Jesus never looked at people through the eyes of the law but through love and grace. Yet, He is the only one who has ever fully complied with the law. Therefore, He is the only one who can set us free from it.
You do not have to be righteous and loving for God to meet you and want to be with you; however, if you love God and become a born again believer, you will receive His righteousness and if you associate with Him you will also become loving. Transformed in His likeness we became children of God (2 Corinthians 3:18, Gal 4: 4–7 Romans 3: 19–25, Romans 6: 14–15).
With Love,
Zharlie, Fredrik and Linus
01 AMENDMENT OF THE HEART
LYRICS
my life was filled with guilt and shame
my sin a blocking wall
unworthiness was haunting me
was I the least of all?
condemned by my own conscience
a heavy load I bore
Your holiness kept me from You
I couldn’t reach the score
I thought I should know better
I shouldn’t choose sin
those choices never should have been
despising myself
expecting discontent from You
expecting disappointment
my strength alone could never conquer my sin
I never grasped the meaning of love
I believed Your grace covered my sin
but wouldn’t my sin limit your love for me?
I believed your grace covered my sin
and every time I failed I thought
Your power would now leave me
or at least be limited within me
I didn’t understand my sin
never changed Your love for me
You believed in me
I feared the thought
if sin is no concern
would I embrace it over righteousness?
afraid I would
choose darkness over light
as if I needed an outer motive
now I know the cost of sin:
its residue alone
its consequence for me
enough to leave that zone
now I know the love You give
is everything I need
its consequence enough
enough for me indeed
Your perfect love – my mind renewed
no need for guilt and shame
grace is greater than my failures
the change of heart has affected me
instead of crawling far below
unveiled the truth I see
You walk right beside me
a love with no strings attached
to actions or performance
You call me Your child
once and for all
You took all my failures
all my shame and guilt
You believe in me
my strength alone could never conquer my sin
I never grasped the meaning of love
I believed Your grace covered my sin
but would not my sin limit Your plans for me
I feared the thought:
if sin is no concern
would I embrace it over righteousness?
the amendment of the heart has granted me
a life of fulfillment and gratitude
in the victory of Christ
I am set free from the curse of the law
I am free to know the true identity of God
the Father
the Love
the Truth
my Life
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
This is the only song on the album whose lyrics are not based solely on a Bible study but are based more on personal experience. The text is about changing from a legalistic, self-righteous mindset into the mindset of being a child of God. The Bible is full of truths and attitudes. The more committed you are to follow the law, the more condemned you will feel when you fail. We must come to the end of ourselves in order for life with God to begin for real. It is not through our power and our talents it will happen (Romans 4:14, 5:8–11). God loves us. He will use us despite of our shortcomings. No one has ever been qualified enough through their own works.
By studying the Bible, I began to realize that sin did not matter for God to want to have a relationship with me; on the other hand, sin can cause me to no longer want a relationship with Him or cloud that relationship. Sin also often has serious consequences in our lives and in the lives of people around us; therefore, we have every reason to live by a high moral standard. The purpose of that is neither to get God to love us more, nor to struggle in effort to keep our everlasting life (John 3:16, Romans 6:22, John 5:24). This makes all the difference in the result.
This revelation was difficult for me to handle since I struggled for many years in the efforts to “live righteously”. I thought my sin changed God’s behavior towards me. If sin does not matter much between me and God after salvation, will I not choose the pleasures of sin? It never turned out to be like that; it’s like the base of the question is wrong. The revelation of God’s love towards me changed my heart to longing for what is good and made me less worried about my failures. Instead I quickly get back on track (1 Peter 2:9). Guilt and shame disappeared almost completely when I went into the mindset of grace and being a child of God.
My love for God and the joy of everyday life grew. As a consequence, the strength of sin through the commandment weakened in my life. I find myself living holier now by no longer desiring sin to the same extent. When I was striving to not sin, the desire for sin was stronger. A trait of our human nature is that we are often tempted more by what is forbidden (1 Cor 15:56). Instead of condemnation as a result of sin, I am now thankful to God for giving me His righteousness through faith, not by works (Philippians 3:9).
/Fredrik
02 THE SHADOW
LYRICS
for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified
(Galatians 2:16)
history repeats itself
it has been done to death
thinking one could live a life
deserving righteousness
the purpose of the law
was not to save us
just to convey to us
the essence of His character
setting a standard
we’d never reach
we were doomed to fail
some millenniums ago
according to the law
sacrificing spotless lambs
for the sake of vindication
this was an indication
a shadow from a future act
Christ is the end of the law
the start of a new era
the cause of the shadow
the completion of the plan
Christ is the fulfillment of the law
the beginning of an era
the proof of the shadow
the completion of the rescue plan
you may say
you’re not a sinner
try to do right by your fellow man
but in contrast to
the stunning glow
of purity as white as snow …
… we are all sinners
you won’t find a righteous man
whether searching high or low
so take comfort you’re not alone
all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God
you cannot accomplish righteousness
just receive it as a gift
only faith in Christ can save you
not a graveyard shift
cursed are the ones who fail
to obey the law in every detail (Galatians 3:10)
Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating cursed life
by absorbing it completely into Himself (Galatians 3:13)
sin is not counted where there is no law (Romans 5:13)
so if you’re with Christ you can’t sin (1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:18)
so if you’re with Christ, you are under grace (Romans 6:14)
you were in a court of law
guilty as the devil’s claw
waited for the verdict
Christ stepped in
He took your fall
served your sentence
returned your call
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
We are saved by grace through faith. The law shows God’s standard of righteousness: what is right and wrong. It is therefore not only correct that the Bible acknowledges the law but also necessary to describe a holy and just God. However, putting your energy into fulfilling the law by your own “good” deeds does not fit into the gospel of the New Testament. The good news is instead that Christ paid the price for our transgressions and that through Him we receive the kingdom and the blessings of God.
The title “The Shadow” refers to Colossians 2:17, where Paul describes the commandments of the law as something passing, a shadow of something greater that had come – the light of Christ. The Shadow is not about undermining the essence of the law but highlights Bible verses that show the danger of a legalistic mindset and how impossible it is to comply with the law. Consider the sharp rebuke Jesus gives the scribes and pharisees because they put the burdens of the law on the people.
As Christians, we should instead let the law of love constantly be present in our minds (Romans 13:8–10). In the new covenant, the primary purpose of the law is to show God’s standard of holiness and thereby demonstrate the need for Christ in our lives. Fellowship with Him is the root of a holy life in peace. Fellowship with the law saves no one and brings only condemnation and fear through the inevitable failures of the flesh. Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
03 YOUR NEW IDENTITY
LYRICS
when you enter the Covenant
you may not feel a thing
there may not be fireworks
don’t expect to hear the angels sing
but nothing will ever be the same
your emotions set aside
your status and identity
are formed by your allied
your criminal record is wiped clean
as the withered grass now is green
a new name and royal estate
the entrance is a golden gate
you give your heart your mind and passion
you get an entirely new fashion
adopted to being a rightful child
before your birth the forms were filed
now you are legit heir
no need to beg for grants elsewhere
everything you need
your Father will provide
His promises He’ll always keep
it has been tried – it has been applied
like the prodigal son you are free
to ruin your life
to lose your way
the Father will always be waiting
your room will be intact
regardless of your misdemeanors
His love – an unbreakable contract
the son of a ruler (2 Chronicles 20:6)
the son of a king (Psalms 47:7)
the son of a warrior (Exodus 15:3)
who would want to fight you? (Romans 8:31)
what could you possibly fear? (Isaiah 41:10-11)
you are glorified by God
you are justified by God (Romans 8:30)
raise your head and count the stars
as many as their count
are the moments of bliss
He has relished on your account
you are free from sin
you are free from shame
and from all potential accusations
you are free from ailment
you are free from fear
you are free from guilt
and from eternal condemnation
so be head – not tail
so be strong – not frail
rise above your foes
don’t stoop to their level
rise above – rise in love
rise in the wisdom of your new identity
rise above – rise in love
let your identity be in Jesus Christ
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
When we receive Christ, everything becomes new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The change always takes place in our spirit but is not necessarily manifested in our body or in our soul. Some people can literally feel a change but far from everyone does. Even those who can feel God’s presence clearly sooner or later need to base their faith on what God’s Word says more than on their feelings and experiences. Our feelings are merely an unreliable mirror of what is spiritual, while God’s Word shows us who we are in the new covenant. We need to realize that what God says about us is more true than what we can perceive with our own five senses.
If His Word and our experiences don’t match, we need to choose to believe the promises of God over our own feelings and circumstances. This is immensely important because the promises of God are activated through faith.
The legalistic Christian usually primarily identifies with their fallen nature and struggles to overcome their flesh. However, God’s will is that we, as Christians, should identify with who we are and what we have in Christ instead. This is an important part of the transformation of the mind mentioned in Romans 12:2. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The truth that God sees in us is now in our spirit. We should choose to look at ourselves through the eyes of God, so that we can worship in spirit and in truth – accepting the perspective of being in right standing with God through Christ, no longer trying to get there through works (2 Corinthians 5:17–19, 21).
04 MINDBLOWING
LYRICS
You rise above all others
in character, importance, excellence
like the highest tower
You rise above all others
from past to future tense
like the highest tower
You rise above all others
indivisible by nature
unbreakable like the sky
always at the right place at the right time
no place no instance
no wall no fence
can limit Your omnipresent existence
infinite in power
You rule with love and grace
mercy is a gift to us
our transgressions You erase
You know all I am
still You want me
when I’m gone
You plan a feast for my return
my well-being
Your primary concern
the sole being
with the whole picture
who knows what’s true
who knows what’s right
who separated day from night
You have no beginning
Eternal Friend
no boundaries to be caught within
and no, You have no end
You are the Father
You are the Son
You are the Helper
for everyone
indivisible by nature
unbreakable like the sky
mind-blowing to us
the fact that You can never die
infinite in power
You rule with love and grace
mercy is a gift to us
our transgressions You erase
You know all I am
still You want me
when I’m gone
You plan a feast for my return
my well-being
Your primary concern
You are the source of love
love cannot be content alone
You are a self-reliant person
still You have a need
for Your love to be returned
so that love can be complete
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
Psalms 8:4 says, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” In fact, God in all His splendor, greatness and omnipotence is completely independent, but God’s greatest quality is that He is love. Because He is love, He wants to be loved in return. He longs for our response to His love. Sometimes we forget how much it blesses God that we love Him in return and that we respond to His goodness. Some believe that what they accomplish blesses God, but what He desires most is our love and our hearts.
He is the perfect paragon of a loving Father. He upholds everything through His Word (Hebrews 1:3) and in Him everything is that was, that are and that is to come (Hebrews 2:10). His greatness and splendor extend vastly beyond any human comprehension – still He wanted and chose to create mankind to fellowship with Him and His creation. In the moment of creation, He saw every person that would ever exist (Revelation 17:8). His great love and desire to fellowship with us transcends time and space over and over again through history (2 Peter 3:8).
As Jesus hung on the cross, He knew it was a necessary sacrifice for you and me to be able to receive everlasting life and fellowship with Him (Hebrews 12:2). He saw the result of His actions and what it would mean for us. In the midst of horrible, unjust pain and suffering, He could therefore experience the innermost joy that you might be His one day. A similar joy that comes by looking at ones most beloved bride – rescued and arising from ashes, holy and justified – “just as if I’d never sinned”. The fact that He can never die also correlates with the truth that God is love, so God’s love for us can never die. He does not shift in temper or attitude – He loves us (James 1:17, Romans 11:29).
05 THE OATHKEEPER
LYRICS
a true relationship is based on trust
but how do we know when to entrust?
what determines if our word is an empty lie
is there another way to know
besides the test of time?
might there be something in our nature –
something within our DNA
cultures all throughout the world
have practiced and still do today
the goal – to make life better
improve prosperity
two twisted wires – stronger than one
if we work together – we will overcome
everlasting Covenant
a pact sealed in blood
assuring the promise is authentic
blood representing life
lives mixed together
and swearing by the highest oath
not to be a breaker
to love you like I love myself
through drought and through floods
will change the way that I behave
through truce and through wars
a practice of mutual concession
a promise from both sides
all I own – now your possession
anything you ask – I’ll do
I’ll stake my life for your protection
I’ll help you to get through
“if you join Me and be My ally
if you love Me and respect
I will give you part of My kingdom
My fortress will protect
your enemies – My enemies
your war is My war
this is our oath
if they rise up against you
they will face us both”
everlasting Covenant
a pact sealed in blood
assuring the promise is authentic
blood representing life
lives mixed together
and swearing by the highest oath
not to be a breaker
to love you like I love myself
through drought and through floods
will change the way that I behave
through truce and through wars
I didn’t have that much to offer
the favor was all on my side
with God on the other side of the table
it was easy to decide
not much for me to lose and
so very much to gain
the benefits progressed
as He continued to explain
“if you join Me and be my ally
if you love Me and respect
I will give you part of my kingdom
My fortress will protect”
nothing for me to lose and
so very much to gain
with God Almighty by my side
my life won’t be in vain
nothing for me to lose and
so very much to gain
with God Almighty by my side
my life won’t be the same
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
Western culture has not practiced blood ties in modern times. The knowledge about blood unions in general is thus very limited. The new covenant is established with the precious blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:15–18). The purpose of “The Oathkeeper” is to show what a blood covenant means and also what it means to be in covenant with God.
The understanding of the promises of God becomes stronger with the realization that we are in a blood covenant with Him. In this way, Jesus both fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) to remove its’ curses and opened the heavenly floodgates. He released the blessings of God into our lives, promised to those who kept the law. Jesus kept the law in our place and paid our debt for us. Through the covenant in His blood, we are made partakers of the victory over death – we void the curse and receive all the blessings of God (Hebrews 9:12). We can, through this covenant, therefore boldly come unto the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that the Lord will receive us. Trusting He will stand with us and that He indeed is for us – not against us. Hebrews 13:5b says: (…) “for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Read about the blessings that come through keeping the law, which all in Christ do, in Deuteronomy 28:3–13. In Matthew 24:35 Jesus says: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.” His Words and promises are eternal. He is the true Oath keeper.
ADDITIONAL PHRASE COMMENTARY
“…if you love Me and respect” the word “respect” in this occurrence is directed to the heart’s turning to the Lord and giving Him the honor of being right about us needing Jesus for salvation. In the moment that we believe it in our hearts and confess it with our mouths, we are saved (Romans 10:9). We have the promise of protection; He is our fortress (Psalms 91:2, 2 Samuel 22:2). He will not leave us nor forsake us. If we choose to leave God, He will still love us the same. He will uphold His part of the covenant, but we won’t use our faith to enable His promises for us.
06 BEHIND THE TORN VEIL
LYRICS
the serenity amidst a major crisis
the rain for a starving ground
the friend for a lonely crowd
the snow for a scorching landscape
the lion that protects the lambs
the judge in a lawless land
a sanctuary in an epidemic outbreak
the wind that we cannot control
the sun that never fails to show
the Word we should trust
more than the ground beneath us
the bread we need
for our beings to move
the flame that awakens the candle
the breath that awakens the dead
the love no lyric could ever do justice
the treasure that everyone seeks
but only few find
the patience of an infinite scale
the forgiveness of a boundless kind
is there snow without flakes?
is there love without God?
the comfort of my lover’s shoulder
how could I live without You?
You brought me from my anguish
and gave me a second chance
a lifeless stone
in Your eyes – turned to a sapphire
You dressed me with wisdom
showed me a new world
You gave me a reason to hope
my root, my essence, my future
immersed in Your love
“they can rip my clothes off my body
and hang me in a tree
beat me till the blood runs
but never take my faith from me”
– Raheli
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
We cannot describe in words enough how worthy God is of our love. This love song to God is also dedicated to Raheli (R.I.P.) – a friend and Maasai woman who, because of her love for God, had her clothes torn off, was hung in a tree and almost beaten to death. Her life became a testimony of her strong love for God.
History is full of such examples, followers of Jesus that – despite persecution, torture and death – chose to express their love for Him and for what He has done for them through their own witness. The love, grace and goodness of God are simply too amazing to not be expressed and shared with others. This is the true God of love and we simply stand in awe of Him, pointing to Him for others to see: come and get to know Him.
The Bible is full of descriptions of how awesome He is and of how much He loves us – even to the point of His own death for our sake – to save us. He is also the true transmogrifier: if allowed, He transforms a broken spirit and a crushed soul into the complete opposite. A stone heart turned to flesh again – pumping life, hope and joy into the arteries of one’s essence.
Traumatic experiences viewed in retrospect tells us that He was always there. He tried to protect. He cared and He took the beating, shame and disgrace that we could not bear. Zechariah 2:8 tells us that the Lord consider us “the apple of His eye”. He cares for us as the perfect archetype of a Father would for his beloved children. We love Him because He has first loved us (1 John 4:19).
No matter what difficulty we go through, Jesus has gone through something utterly more difficult for our sake. All our love for God is nothing compared to the eternal love He showed us when He died on the cross. In Romans 8:18 it says that the suffering in this time is not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us. In Romans 8:28 it says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
EXTRA COMMENT FROM ZHARLIE
In my opinion this is the most poetic song on the album, kind of like a love song to God. It’s full of many different descriptions. A line that came out to be interesting is “a sanctuary in an epidemic outbreak” and these words were written several years ago, so it interesting that now when the time came for the release that’s exactly what we all deal with. And I love the thought of seeing Him as the sanctuary in these times where we can feel safe no matter what happens around us.
I also have to mention my friend Raheli, a maasai women from Tanzania. My parents worked there as missionares for many years and I got to know her through them. When she was saved her husband did not allow her to go to church or express her faith and she was tortured almost to death because of that. Behind the Torn Veil ends with a rephrased quote from Raheli: You can take my life, but you can never take my faith away from me. Like the lyrics said she was hung (upside down) in a tree and almost beaten to death. My parents helped saving her away from that situation and helped her to a secure life and she became an evangelist and a strong witness. Interesting fact is that she came to Sweden to visit once and I showed her Shadows of Paragon and she seemed to like it. 🙂
07 SILENCE THE CYNIC
LYRICS
a thought conceived
a voice is heard
a thought conceived
a word is born
a voice is heard
the silence torn
arising from a crowded heart
shaping its surrounding
could light a flame, a fire start
could bring us together or tear us apart
the power of words
written, spoken, heard
severely underrated
the power of words
written, spoken, heard
the impact on the world
as we chatter in ignorance
like swinging a loaded gun
are we aware of the outcome?
do you know how many fires you started?
do you know how many feelings you’ve hurt?
are you aware your words will be remembered?
are you able to perceive the alert?
would you fly a plane without a licence?
would you shoot a gun into the dark?
sometimes a better choice is silence
to dampen the attempting spark
and did you know
what you sow is what you’ll reap
what’s in your heart your mouth will speak
a powerful weapon – the cause of strife
as well as the peace convention
the doctor, the killer both handle the knife
the difference lies in the intention
use your words for inspiration
for comfort and support
use words for restoration
for faith and reward
do you know how many fires you started?
do you know how many feelings you’ve hurt?
are you aware your words will be remembered?
are you able to perceive the alert?
defy gossip, envy and rage
silence the cynic inside
slander belongs to olden age
let your words be purified
spoken words made the earth
the Living Word us saved
as It became flesh and blood
unchained the world enslaved
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
We are often incredibly unaware of how important our words are, both to ourselves and to our fellow human beings. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34, 15:18). It is important that we take control of our speech for the sake of our personal development and also for our spiritual journey. Words said in anger, stress or anxiety are often a reaction to outer circumstances and not always very well thought through. We often regret uttering them and we do not want them to have influence. We are however created after the image of God – He who created the entire Universe by solely using His Words. Just like our Creator, we also impact our surroundings when we are using our words, both for good and bad.
You can sometimes walk into a room where there has just been a verbal disagreement and perceive the atmosphere – the surroundings have been affected. You can likewise experience the atmosphere in a loving environment full of encouragement and expressed affection. Also, our faith comes from hearing preaching (Romans 10:17). The Word of God is like a seed that we plant in our heart. If we let the Word remain in the good soil of the heart, it takes root, and when the time is right, yields a hundredfold harvest. It is not about living righteously or pleasing God to deserve His blessings; it is about nurturing the Word we have planted in our hearts until we reap God’s promises. If we speak out in faith, the Bible promises us that we have authority over whatever problems (“mountains”) we may have in our lives.
Mark 11:22–23: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; He shall have whatsoever he saith.”
Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
James 1:26: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
Proverbs 16:24: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
Hebrews 1:3: “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (…)”
08 NOT BY DOMINATION
LYRICS
malicious acts, unpleasant deeds,
corruption, crime, disaster,
mischief, misfortune, disease
we need someone to blame
a target for our displeasure
in this world there is enjoyment
but also so much pain
where is our Creator,
our Almighty Saviour
does He even reign?
in all this suffering
how can we be free?
how can the Highest One
allow a killing spree?
what is the meaning of being almighty
what is the meaning of having such power?
Almighty God means highest in ranking
no one above to direct or command Him
He doesn’t rule like a king of the earth
instead of domination
He reigns with
love and grace
all the time in every space
the reign of the world was given to humans
the earth was for us
to wield, to ply, to farm, to tend
to manage for useful things
the Creator was longing for love
despite His self-reliance, see
to be loved was a need
yet to be filled
and love can’t be forced
so He gave us free will
we took our freedom and authority
and we gave it away
became victims of our lusts and desires
turned ourselves into slaves
God mourns our choices
but by His Word
His hands are tied
He will never break His promises
He will not take away our freedom
Christ – died for us so we could live
now, we are His bodies in this world
we are His hands and feet
His eyes and ears
in the spiritual realm
the battle is won
death has been defeated
the ill are healed
in our minds
we have yet to understand
His victory
His greatness
His heart
His core
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
Many people think that everything that happens has a meaning, or happens for a reason. This is based on a misunderstanding of God’s omnipotence. The Bible is explicit about God’s omnipotence, but is also explicit about our free will and that we live in a fallen world. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Thus, God’s will does not happen automatically in all situations here on earth, nor should we find comfort in “that it was God’s will” when tragedies occur. James 1:13–18 clearly shows that it is sin that gives birth to death and that God Himself does not tempt anyone, nor is He tempted by evil. In other words; God does not control all the details that happen in the world. In Romans 8:19–23 it says that the whole creation is waiting for its liberation.
Even though God is almighty, there are things He cannot do – such as lie, deceive, regret His gifts and callings or go back on His word (Romans 11:29).
He has promised to always be with us, to never leave us, never abandon us. He has not promised that we will never encounter difficulties. However, Christ’s total victory lies in the fact that when we walk with Him, we have the opportunity to overcome everything that comes against us. Everything we encounter can be turned into something meaningful. No matter what the enemy throws at us, it can be transformed into victory.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
The Bible tells us that we should stand against the wiles of the devil and that our shield of faith will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. So there will be opposition and attacks on us, but if we cling to the Lord and His teachings, we will have victory over such opposition (Romans 8:31–39).
09 OUTNUMBER THE DARK
LYRICS
may your faith become effective by knowing
everything you have in Christ (Philemon 1:6)
may your heart become humble
by knowing the character of the Father
may the Holy Spirit be your friend,
your mentor and guide
and may love be the driving force
in all your actions
may God’s wisdom and greatness
be immersed in you every day
may you approach every obstacle
with a spiritual confidence
as a result of the power that rose Christ from the dead
being alive in your life
may the authority given to you not be belittled
but used with wisdom and endorsement from above
may you perform the same deeds as Jesus
may you release the power of God
to heal the sick, cure diseases and raise the dead
may you speak to the mountain to fall into the sea
and so it will be
may you know your enemy
the scam and the vanishing point
so you can resist him
make him flee
may the sound thoughts outnumber the dark
to win the spiritual war in your mind
may the words you speak with authority
not fall into a barren ground
but fall into rich soils and matter
find what you had all along
in the Covenant
in the Covenant
the Covenant
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
Most Christians believe that God has the ability to do whatever He wants. A common prayer is to ask God to come and perform His works, even though the Bible clearly shows that God is always present and has already done all that was needed to be done for us. We incorrectly let our perception of God’s presence determine whether He really is with us or not. We need to change our way of thinking and become more Word-minded than emotionally focused or driven by our five senses.
When we thank God for promising never to leave us, never to abandon us, our consciousness shifts from “God is far away” to “God is here”. Then we will soon also perceive Him because He is actually already here. It works the same way with God’s promises. On the spiritual level, these gifts are already given through Christ, but we must become aware of this to see them begin to function here in the physical world on a regular basis. Philemon 1:6 shows that the effectualness of our faith depends on knowing what we have in Christ. We need to let our minds be transformed from being guided by our experiences and senses. Identify with who you are and what you have in Christ according to the Word of God.
As a born-again Christian “you’ve already got it” so start releasing your faith (Romans 8:32). We don’t need to convince God to deliver His promises to us – be it health, blessings or guidance. We resist the devil so he does not succeed in his attempts to steal away what is already ours through the Word planted in our hearts. We stand our ground, which has been given to us by Jesus. We preserve the Word in our hearts, which gives us the fruit of God’s promises. If we don’t see the effect of our prayers, we turn to the Holy Spirit who guides us forward to our breakthrough.
We believe these things are important to release the supernatural power of God in our lives. It enables us to effectively flow in the gifts of the Spirit and to become more aware of God’s will and intent in every situation of every day. He is a personal God that loves to spend time with us; to be a part of everything in our lives. Be it small and trivial or big and challenging – He wants us to let Him be a part of it because He loves us much more than we can comprehend.
10 – FAITH IN BEING FOREVER SAVED
LYRICS
are you afraid to fall asleep
without asking for forgiveness
are you afraid of where you’ll go
if you die in your sleep?
what happens if you sin today
and fall asleep before confession
will your soul be lost outside of time
’cause you didn’t repent
convicted by your crime
no, My child it isn’t so
your faith is all I need
to know you want to be with Me
My forgiveness is your creed
does it mean you will choose to live in sin
not thinking of repercussions?
no, it means you don’t have to be perfect in life
Your sin died with Me
My atonement is valid day and night
your heart My one request
if asleep, if awake
nothing at stake
I’m your shelter through the night
what happens if you sin today
and fall asleep before confession
will your soul be lost of outside of time
’cause you didn’t repent
you have been set free
from condemnation and guilt
and their paralyzing effects
to live holier by chance
than ever on purpose
you are signed by the Son
sealed by the Spirit
delivered from sin and strife
your name has been written
with everlasting ink
into the Book of Life
you are free to leave
but I’ll never forsake you
no one will ever be able to snatch
you out of My steadfast hands
your feelings may say
I have left, gone away
learn to refuse those lies
in My Word, find advise
if you let your faith
depend on emotions
you will float around
like a log in the oceans
instead, let your faith be
a sureness of mind
the rock under your feet
if you let your faith
depend on emotions
you will float around
like a log in the oceans
instead let My Word be
your sureness of mind
the rock under your feet
(VOICE OF ERIC CLAYTON:)
1 There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things
of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
(Romans 8:1–6)
LYRICAL COMMENTARIES
Many believe that once a person is saved, they cannot lose their salvation. There are several Bible verses that support this thesis. Others believe that every time you sin, you must confess the sin or get it “under the blood” in order to be saved again. This interpretation becomes quite difficult once you study what sin really is. The Bible tells us that if you commit just one sin, you are guilty of breaking the entire law (James 2:10), so how many sins should you confess? It also states that it’s a sin to recognize a good deed and not doing it (James 4:17). By this interpretation, we are sure that every person breaks the old covenant law on a regular basis, sometimes without even knowing it. Therefore it becomes impossible to confess that sin to get your salvation “back again”.
We do not believe that you can “sin away your salvation” or, in other words, lose your salvation because of sin. We believe that God never takes back His gifts (Romans 11:29) and that we are eternally sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). Our spirit is born again, of a different nature than before and it has been given the gift of everlasting life – now nothing can separate us from the love of God. Our desire and motivation to live holy is therefore not to maintain our salvation, nor to make God love us more. If we sin, we still have our salvation and God loves us for what Jesus did, not for what we do.
However, the Bible seems to acknowledge that we can renounce our salvation. It does not happen easily because you have to be a mature Christian who have tasted and consciously experienced the goodness of God to be able to turn your heart away from God to such an extent that you will never have any longing to go back ever again. Contemplate that all criteria in Hebrews 6:4–5 must be fulfilled. Due to these terms, hardly any spirit-filled Christians can renounce their salvation.
No born-again person who ever longs for God again or who has a fear of having lost their salvation, has actually lost it. In practice, we believe that most of those who think they have left God are actually still saved. We are clothed in the righteousness of God (Romans 3:22), so that is what the Father sees when He looks at us. When we act in ways which are totally against His will and intent with our lives, He will still see and treat us as His beloved, blameless bride to be.
God exist outside of time and space, and He can see the moment of the prodigal son’s return – even if the return tarries until the reunion in Heaven.
This song is written for you who may fear that your own shortcomings can cause you to lose your salvation. We love you and God loves you no matter what you’ve done. We know that there is peace and assurance to find in the relationship with God as your loving Father and we pray you will find it.
Support for eternal redemption
Isaiah 51:6
Matthew 19:29
John 3:15–16, 4:14, 5:24, 6:36–40, 6:47, 6:54, 8:51, 10:28–30, 11:25–26, 12:44–50, 17:2–3
Romans 4:6–8, 6:13–14, 6:22–23, 10:9–13
2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:19
Ephesians 1:13–14, 2:4–10, 4:30
1 Timothy 1:16
Titus 1:1–2, 3:4–7
Hebrews 8:12, 9:11–28,10:14–18
1 Peter 1:3–5
2 Peter 3:9
1 John 5:11–13, 13:5, 54:8–10
Jude 1:24